Hand washboards



March 31, 1959 w. P. GRIFFITHS HAND WASHBOARDS Filed Aug. 24, 1956 INVENTOR Warren 3 6r: 'zfa'z ifli ATTO R N EY United States Patent HAND WASHBOARDS Warren P. Grifliths, Philadelphia, Pa.

Application August 24, 1956, Serial No. 606,105

3 Claims. (Cl. 68-220) This invention relates to hand washboards and more particularly to a washboard of a sufficiently small size suitable to be grasped within one hand of the user.

It is the principal object of the present invention to provide a washboard for grasping within one hand of the user, in the form of a plate, and preferably with washboard corrugation of different degrees of roughness on opposite sides thereof.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a washboard for grasping within one hand and which can be used with equal facility by right and by left handed persons.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a washboard for grasping within the hands and which has a simplified construction for grasping but with which a relatively large area of rubbing surface is available.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a hand washboard which is suitable for use with relatively coarse or with fine fabrics, as desired.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a hand washboard which can be inexpensively constructed and which, without sacrifice of rubbing surface has one or more panels for identification and advertising display.

Other objects and advantageous features of the invention will be apparent from the description and claims.

The nature and characteristic features of the invention will be more readily understood from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part thereof, in which:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a hand washboard in accordance with the invention, and showing one manner of gripping and supporting the same;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view as seen from one side of the washboard shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 as seen from the other side;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken approximately on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken approximately on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

It should, of course, be understood that the description and drawings herein are illustrative merely, and that various'modifications and changes can be made in the structure disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings the washboard of the present invention is preferably formed as a plate 10, and preferably molded from synthetic plastic material of suitable rigidity and resistance to corrosion. The plate 10 is preferably light in weight and in a particular embodiment of synthetic plastic weighs about onehalf to three-quarters of an ounce. It can be made of light metal, such as aluminum or of a suitable alloy. The plate 10 is made so as to be free from any sharp or other edges or surfaces which might injure the fabric or start runs therein.

The plate 10 has an upper marginal edge 11 with stifiening ribs 12 therealong and with an opening 13 spaced from the marginal edge 11 a pair of opposite similar con cave arcuate portions or notches 14 are provided, one of which is adapted for engagement by the thumb and the other by the first or index finger of the user and dependent on which face of the plate 10 is disposed upwardly for use and which hand is used for grasping the plate 10.

Along the side margins of the plate 10 and below the arcuate portions 14 and more widely spaced than the portions 14, opposite side marginal edge portions 15 are provided concave between their extremities, and connected by a marginal edge 16 opposite the edge 11. The edge 16 is preferably provided with stiffening ribs 17 therealong for greater strength.

One face of the plate 10 between the edge portions 15, and extending from the edge 16, is provided with a plurality of corrugations 18, of any desired shape or configuration but preferably of a width and root shape between lands to provide a relatively rough surface for coarse fabrics, such as those used for linen toweling, socks, garments and the like, and for cleansing action on stubborn or difiicult to remove stains.

The opposite face of the plate 10, between the edges vide a smoother surface for fine fabrics such as those used for womens hosiery, handkerchiefs, lace, lingerie and the like, and for less diflicult to remove stains.

The corrugations 18 and 19 preferably extend to a location just above a line connecting the upper margins of the arcuate portions 15 so that panels 20 above the corrugations 18 and 19, and between the arcuate portions 14 on each side of the plate 10, provide spaces for advertising displays or the like.

It will be noted that the plate 10 is symmetrical about a central plane perpendicular thereto and intersecting the margins 11 and 16 so that the washboard is reversible.

The washboard in use is adapted to be gripped with the base or root or the first joint of the thumb in engagement in one of the arcuate portions 14 and the first joint of the first or index finger in engagement in the opposite portion 14, the other three fingers engaging at their first joints or tips along the edge 15 at the same side of the plate 10 as the arcuate portion 14 with which the index finger engages. The plate 10 is additionally supported by its engagement with the palm of the hand. The desired corrugations 18 or 19 may be disposed facing outwardly for rubbing the article to be washed and with the plate 10 firmly gripped, held and supported for the desired rubbing action of the articles thereon.

I claim:

1. A hand washboard for support wholly by and within either hand of the user consisting of a plate symmetrical about one central axis and having opposite top and bottom margins intersecting said axis and side margins spaced from said axis, said side margins having a pair of like spaced opposite side indentations inwardly of the top margin thereof and having opposite like arcuate side edge portions extending beyond said indentations to the bottom margin and more widely spaced than said indentations, said plate being provided on one face thereof with washboard corrugations disposed between said arcuate side edge portions, one of said indentations being for engagement by the thumb of the user and the other of said indentations being for engagement by a finger of the same hand of the user, the arcuate side edge portion contiguous to said other indentationbeing for engagement by the other fingers of the same hand of the user and the Patented Mar. 31, 1959 a eihe e r' cuate side edge por ticn being for engagement by ReferenceeCited in the file of this patent the palm of the 's'am'e'h'and of the User, Said top and bottom margins being spaced for engagement between the UNITED STATES PATENTS thumb and fingers of either hand of the user. 118,790 Cadwell Sept. 12, 1871 2. A hand washboatd as defined in claim 1 in which 5 1,568,569 Pasnik Jan. 5, 1926 the other face of saidplate is prbvided with corrugations 2,271,512 Griffiths Feb. 3, 1942 providing a different degree of rbil'ghness. 2,719,316 Hauser Oct. 4, 1955 3. A hand washboard as defined in claim 1 in which at least: one of said margins has a stifiening rib thereai'ong. 

